Police in Mbale are searching for a Safi Line SACCO driver accused of attacking and stabbing a 19-year-old passenger before abandoning her in a thicket in Mbale, Kakamega County.

The victim, Sylvia Moraa, is currently receiving treatment at Kenyatta National Hospital after sustaining multiple injuries in the alleged attack.

Moraa had left for Busia on Monday, August 3, hoping to start a new life as a salonist after failing to raise fees for a technical college.

She travelled to Nairobi before boarding a matatu at a city stage. However, the vehicle allegedly took a different route, leaving her and other passengers confused about their destination.

Passengers Questioned Driver

Moraa said passengers began questioning the driver after the vehicle reached Nakuru.

“We reached Nakuru, so people were like, ‘Unatupeleka wapi? Hii njia unatupeleka si yenye tunafaa kwenda.’ The matatu driver was like, ‘Si mnge-sema kutoka stage.’ He became rude,” Moraa recounted.

The vehicle, registration KDS 885G, was identified by Mbale police as belonging to Safi Line SACCO. It was reportedly detained briefly in Nakuru over traffic offences before being released.

Moraa said the situation took a terrifying turn after the vehicle reached Mbale.

Driver Allegedly Attacked Passenger

According to Moraa, the driver grabbed her by the neck and threatened to kill her.

“It was in Kakamega, a place called Mbale. He grabbed my neck and told me, ‘Mmenisumbua from Nakuru na nimekasirika sana.’ He told me, ‘Unajua naweza kukuua?’ I asked him what I had done to him, and he told me, ‘Msichana nyamaza.’ He took out a knife, put it here and hit it against the cabin at the front,” she recounted.

She said the driver then allegedly used the knife to injure her around the ears before slapping her.

“Then he grabbed my neck and did this with the knife. He told me to lie on his seat because I had already urinated on myself. He told me to put my head on the seat, took the knife and cut me around the ears, then slapped me.”

Moraa further claimed that the driver may have injected her with an unknown substance before she lost consciousness.

“From there, sijui kama alinidunga dawa juu alikuwa na syringe akifanya hivi. From there, nilijipata hosi,” she said.

Mother Learns of Attack

Moraa’s mother, Rose Nyang’ara, said she only learnt that her daughter was in danger after receiving a call from a police officer in Mbale.

“Mtoto wangu nilipigiwa simu saa kumi na moja na nusu na askari wa Mbale. Hapo ndio nilijua mtoto wangu amepatwa na shida. Akaniambia, ‘Mtoto wako tumempata kwa kichaka kama amevamiwa,’” Nyang’ara said.

Police are now searching for the driver, who remains at large.

Vehicle Owner Confirms Matatu

Citizen TV traced the vehicle’s ownership while seeking more information about the driver.

Safi Line SACCO chairman David Simiyu confirmed that KDS 885G was part of the company’s fleet and said the vehicle belonged to his wife.

“Activate call KDS 885G. Exactly, the vehicle is in my company. It is one of the vehicles in my company and it belongs to Mill Center, who is my wife. From the vehicle, I really didn’t bother much, but those people were telling me that the guy removed his belongings, including a knife. I don’t know. I just have to report to the police. I’m a law-abiding person, and I feel so bad for that young girl,” Simiyu stated.

Attempts to reach the driver by phone were unsuccessful.

Meanwhile, Moraa remains in critical condition at Kenyatta National Hospital, where she is undergoing treatment for her injuries.

“Niliambiwa niko na shida kwa kichwa. Hapa kwa maskio nahitaji kuoshwa itibiwe. Mguu, I can’t walk. Kifua inahitaji scanning. I need justice,” she said.

Police are continuing with efforts to locate and arrest the suspect as investigations into the alleged attack continue.